U.S. patent number 3,964,773 [Application Number 05/505,749] was granted by the patent office on 1976-06-22 for anti-emission exhaust pipe joint and clamp therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mercury Metal Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward Hoglund, Bertil Stade.
United States Patent |
3,964,773 |
Stade , et al. |
* June 22, 1976 |
Anti-emission exhaust pipe joint and clamp therefor
Abstract
A joint which is made up of exhaust pipes formed with beaded
ends or with a beaded end on one pipe and a flared end on the other
pipe, in any case either with or without suitable gasket means. A
clamp having a concave groove engages the protrusions on the ends
of the pipes of the joint and wedgingly forces them together as the
clamp is constricted. The clamp is made out of two halves which are
hingedly connected at the first end of each and which are adapted
to be secured by a bolt at the second end of each, there preferably
being a nut permanently welded to one of the second ends coaxial
with a first perforation in that end and a second perforation in
the other of the second ends to pass the bolt to the nut. The
hinged connection is preferably non-separable.
Inventors: |
Stade; Bertil (Wood Dale,
IL), Hoglund; Edward (Park Ridge, IL) |
Assignee: |
Mercury Metal Products, Inc.
(Schaumburg, IL)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to January 29, 1991 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
24011669 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/505,749 |
Filed: |
September 13, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
285/367;
285/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N
13/1805 (20130101); F16L 23/08 (20130101); F16L
27/073 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
23/00 (20060101); F16L 23/08 (20060101); F01N
7/18 (20060101); F16L 021/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;285/367,366,365,364,411,410,409,408,407,373,112,197
;24/284,279,273,270,21A,132LS,135K,249LS,249LL,249SL,248SL
;16/171,172 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,514 |
|
Dec 1967 |
|
DK |
|
83,650 |
|
Oct 1964 |
|
FR |
|
1,400,577 |
|
Apr 1965 |
|
FR |
|
1,019,322 |
|
Feb 1966 |
|
UK |
|
966,992 |
|
Aug 1964 |
|
UK |
|
Primary Examiner: Callaghan; Thomas F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Silverman & Cass, Ltd.
Claims
What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States
is:
1. A clamped joint comprising:
A. a pair of pipes, each pipe having a rolled end forming a beaded
formation directly thereon at an axial end thereof, said beaded
formations including respectively axially facing flange surfaces
and the flange surfaces being engaged in abutment on at least
respective circular contact areas substantially coaxial with the
pipes to dispose said beaded formations parallel and side by
side,
B. a pipe clamp formed of two generally semicircular halves each
formed of a single piece of metal and having a semicircular medial
portion and two ends extending respectively generally radially
outwardly from the medial portions so that when the halves are
mated to form a loop of the medial portions the juxtaposed ends
will be generally parallel to one another at least where they
connect with their respective medial portion,
C. the medial portion of each half having an arcuate cross section
throughout a substantial extent of its circumferential length
arranged so that there are radially inwardly facing concave groove
means on the interior of each half, the concave groove means
straddling and engaging the beaded formations at locations spaced
from their contact area to apply wedging forces if the halves are
constricted which wedging forces tend to move the beaded formations
toward one another to force the flange surfaces tightly into
engagement,
D. the first ends of each half being arranged on the same
circumferential side of the loop resulting when the halves are
mated and being generally planar and having cooperating tongue and
slot means forming an articulated connection providing limited
swinging movement of the halves relative to one another, said
limited swinging movement being sufficient to expose the entire
medial section, said swinging movement provided generally in a
plane normal to the axis of said loop, the tongue means being
integral with one first end and bent at an angle relative thereto
toward the other first end, the slot means comprising a passageway
through the other first end in a portion thereof which is planar
and having a wide portion and a narrow portion to an edge of said
other first end, the tongue means being engaged into the passageway
and having an enlarged end protruding beyond the plane of the said
other first end remote from the one first end, said tongue means
being dimensioned to prevent withdrawal of said tongue means from
said slot means, and
E. the second ends of each half being arranged on the
circumferential side of said loop diametrically opposite the first
ends and being generally planar and having cooperating fastening
means to bring said second ends together to constrict said halves
on said beaded formations.
2. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which there there is
an annular gasket sandwiched between the respective contact
areas.
3. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of
the beaded formations is generally arcuate in cross section.
4. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said beaded
formations are arcuate in cross section.
5. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which one of said
beaded formations is arcuate in cross section and the other is
flared.
6. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which the tongue and
slot means are separable to permit separation of said halves.
7. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 3 in which there is an
annular gasket sandwiched between the respective contact areas.
8. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 5 in which the contact
area of the arcuate beaded formation is on its exterior and the
contact area of the flared beaded formation is on its interior and
there is a conical annular gasket sandwiched between the contact
areas.
9. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said medial
portions include annular integral skirts extending generally
parallel with the circumferential surfaces of said pipes, said
halves each being formed of an integral strip of metal of
substantially uniform width throughout the length thereof, the
arcuate cross section part of each medial portion utilizing
substantially less than the full width of said strip and the skirts
comprising the edges of the strip not utilized by the arcuate cross
section part and being bent generally at a substantial angle
relative thereto.
10. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 5 in which said medial
portions include annular integral skirts extending generally
parallel with the circumferential surfaces of said pipes, said
halves each being formed of an integral strip of metal of
substantially uniform width throughout the length thereof, the
arcuate cross section part of each medial portion utilizing
substantially less than the full width of said strip and the skirts
comprising the edges of the strip not utilized by the arcuate cross
section part and being bent generally at a substantial angle
relative thereto.
11. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 10 in which the skirts
are shortened whereby the medial portions are narrower than said
ends.
12. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which the fastening
means include a threaded socket provided on one of said second ends
and a threaded bolt passed through a perforation in the other of
said second ends and engaging in said socket.
13. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 5 in which the fastening
means include a threaded socket provided on one of said second ends
and a threaded bolt passed through a perforation in the other of
said second ends and engaging in said socket.
14. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 6 in which said slot
means is deformable to enable opening said narrow portion for
installation of the tongue means in said slot means and thereafter
closing same.
15. The clamped joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said other
first end is channel-shaped in cross section and the slot means are
in the central part thereof.
16. The clamped joint of claim 1 wherein the second ends comprise
substantially radially outwardly extending tongues with the tongues
spaced apart and having cooperating fastening means for bringing
together and securing said tongues, one of said tongues having a
right angle bent flange directed toward the other tongue and
adapted to limit movement of the tongues toward one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein relates to exhaust pipe joints and clamps
therefor, the principal purpose of the invention being to provide a
joint and clamp which will reduce if not eliminate emission from
exhaust system joints.
The basic principles of the invention and the general background
therefor will be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,677. The invention
herein is intended as an improvement and/or variation of the
invention disclosed in said patent. The improvement relates to the
convenience of handling the clamp of the prior patent by virtue of
certain structural changes made thereto. The variation relates to a
slightly different form of end bead formed on one of the exhaust
pipes.
With respect to handling of the clamp, in the use thereof the prior
disclosure showed the forming of the clamp in two pieces or halves.
There was a rectangular bight formed on the first end of one half
and a simple flat tongue formed on the first end of the other half,
the tongue lying in the bight and being centered and held against
movement because the two halves were held in axial alignment on the
joint. The concave grooves of the halves engaged the abutted beads
and could not move laterally of one another. Although this is
efficient and economical, the workman being required to assemble
the clamp onto a joint has to handle two separate members. The
invention herein contemplates an articulated connection which is as
efficient but in which the two halves are preferably permanently
coupled to one another as a part of the manufacturing process so
that the workman in assembling the joint need not handle two
separate pieces.
In addition to solving the problem of handling two halves of the
clamp, the use of a bolt and nut for fastening the second ends
together posed requirements again of handling a pair of members
(bolt and nut) in addition to manipulating the two halves of the
body of the clamp. Also in tightening the bolt and nut, one has to
be twisted and the other held. The invention herein contemplates
permanently securing the nut to the second end of one half so that
all the workman need do is to thread the bolt into the nut and
tighten the bolt.
With respect to different forms of the beads on the ends of the
pipes, the clamp of the patent as well as that herein is of a
construction which will permit the application of an axial force of
one pipe against the other to tighten their engagement if one end
is provided with a round bead and the other end is provided with a
flared bead--sort of a male and female connection. This form of
joint is capable of being maintained substantially emission-free
even if the pipes are not perfectly aligned, and one of the forms
of the invention herein proposes a clamp structure which allows for
substantial misalignment.
The clamp features of the invention herein are applicable to
structures not necessarily consisting of pipe joints and the
invention is considered broad enough to cover clamps per se using
such features.
With respect to prior art known by the applicants, that which is of
record in the patent referred to is believed typical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A joint for exhaust pipes in which the pipes are provided on each
end with rolled ends butted face to face and presenting a pair of
circumferential ring-like beads side by side to the pipe clamp. The
beads may both be arcuate in cross section or one may be flared.
The pipe clamp for the joint has a pair of bands or halves which
are arcuate in cross section connected together with the concave
portions of the halves engaging over the side by side beads. Taking
up on the clamp constricts the same and wedgingly forces the pipe
ends axially toward one another. A gasket may be interposed between
abutting beads.
The pipe clamp of the invention is formed of a pair of
semi-circular halves, the central body portion of each half being
arcuate in cross section to provide a radially inwardly facing
concave formation to straddle and engage the side by side beads.
The first ends of each half are articulatedly connected together.
They are provided with cooperating slot and tongue means and
preferably the tongue portion of the means has an enlarged end
which prevents its being withdrawn from the slot portion of the
means after assembly so that the two halves are secured together
and can be handled easier than if they were separate parts. The
second ends of each half are provided with generally radially
outwardly bent tabs, one of which has a right angle bend to present
a flange edge to the inner face of the other to prevent distortion
during tightening and thereby enable application of constricting
force mainly close to the pipe. The tabs have aligned perforations
to receive a machine bolt loosely therethrough, one tab having a
nut welded on its outside aligned with its perforation so that the
workman assembling the clamp onto a workpiece need only insert the
bolt through the perforations into engagement with the nut and
tighten the same.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away showing the
joint of the invention and a pipe clamp constructed in accordance
with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same with portions broken
away;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of
FIG. 2 and in the indicated direction;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views taken generally along
the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated, the joint
including a gasket in one view and not in the other;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 but
showing modified forms of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing a form of
the invention in which the clamp is especially intended for use
with a joint that may become misaligned during assembly;
FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the joint of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an exploded fragmentary view of the joint which is
intended to be assembled with the clamp of FIGS. 8 and 9;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view through the joint of FIG. 9 taken
generally along the line 11--11 and in the direction indicated;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one end clamp of
modified form;
FIG. 13 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the clamp of
FIG. 12 illustrating generally the manner in which it is assembled;
and
FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12 but showing still
another form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The reference character 20 designates generally a joint which is
made up of two pipes 22 and 24 comprising parts of an exhaust
system, intended to be connected together in a tight, substantially
emission-free connection either with or without a gasket 26
sandwiched therebetween. The pipe clamp which is to be utilized to
force the ends of the pipes together is designated generally
28.
With respect to the joint 20 and the pipes 22 and 24, their
construction in FIGS. 1 through 5 is no different from the simplest
form of joint disclosed in the abovementioned patent. Their ends
are rolled to form the ringlike bead formations which are called
beads 30 and 32. These beads 30 and 32 are arcuate or rounded in
cross section and their axially facing surfaces comprise annular
flanges 34 and 36 which tightly abut to form the contact juncture
38 in case there is no gasket 26; or which press tightly against
the opposite faces of the ring-like gasket 26 in case one is
used.
As mentioned in the said patent, the gasket is used where the metal
from which the pipes are fabricated is tough, such as for example,
stainless steel. Stainless steel does not work easily to produce
perfect beads, making it difficult to provide a perfect contact
juncture 38. Actually, such gasket 26 is advisable in most vehicles
where the exhaust system is put together on a production line basis
and/or the vehicle will be subject to substantial vibration.
The clamp 28 differs from the clamp of the patent in the
construction of the ends of the halves of the clamp. As in the
patent, the clamp 28 is formed separately of two parts or halves 40
and 42, each of which is generally semicircular in configuration
and each of which has generally radially outwardly extending ends.
The medial portion of each half is formed with an arcuate cross
section providing a convex ridge aspect radially outward and a
concave groove aspect radially inward. When the halves are
assembled onto the joint 20, the concave grooves of the halves 40
and 42 align to provide an annular concave formation that engages
upon the outside of the beads around the majority of the
circumferences of the beads 30 and 32. As the clamp is constricted,
the interior surfaces forming the concave grooves wedge the beads
towards one another thereby forcing the pipes axially into
engagement with one another.
The ends of the halves 40 and 42 are bent radially outwardly, as
explained. The first end 44 of the half 40 is formed in a
channel-like configuration and has a rectangular perforation 46
therein which opens to the edge of the end 44 by way of a narrow
slot 48. The first end 50 of the opposite half 40 is bent radially
outwardly also, but is cut away as shown at 52 in FIG. 1, to form a
necked tongue 54 that is bent at an angle relative to the end 50
towards the end 44, passing through the perforation 46 and having
an integral enlarged cross-head 56 overlying the convex side of the
end 50. The assembly of the tongue 54 into the perforation 46
requires that the slot 48 be spread apart to admit the necked
tongue 54 and then forced back together to prevent removal of the
tongue 54 without damaging the end 44.
Looking for the moment at the connection just described, one can
understand that the two halves are articulatedly connected together
substantially permanently thereby. In the broken line portion of
FIG. 3 one can see how the two halves 40 and 42 can pivot relative
to one another to enable the clamp 28 to be engaged upon the joint
20. In considering the force which is applied to the connection
when the clamp is constricted on the joint, the compression of the
opposite ends of the clamp (shortly to be described) will tend to
cause the first ends 50 and 44 to separate. The tongue 54 will be
placed in tension which is easily resisted by the robust steel from
which the clamp will be made. For example, for a typical two inch
outer diameter pipe joint, the clamp will be stamped from 1/8th
inch cold rolled sheet steel so that the tongue 54 at its narrowest
section will be 1/8 inches thick and about 3/8 inches wide. The
cross-head 56 has a vertical dimension of about 1/4 inch so that in
order to tear it off one would have to shear two such sections.
The channel configuration of the portion 44 resists deformation and
also is quite robust notwithstanding the decrease in cross section
occasioned by the perforation 46.
The second end 60 of the half 40 is also radially outwardly bent
and has a channel configuration similar to that of the end 44. A
central perforation 62 is aligned with a similar perforation 64
provided in the second end 66 of the half 42. There is a nut 68
which is welded to the outside surface (bottom as viewed in FIG. 3)
of the end 66 with its threaded opening axially aligned with the
perforations 62 and 64. A threaded bolt 70 is engaged through the
perforations and threaded onto the nut 68. Taking up on the bolt 70
forces the ends 60 and 66 together. The end 66 has a right angle
bent flange 72 whose free edge engages against the inside of the
second end 60 to cause the constricting force to be transferred
closer to the joint 20 after the edge of flange 72 has been brought
into engagement with the end 60. This prevents distortion of the
ends 60 and 66 during the taking up of the clamp.
When the clamp 28 is furnished to a workman engaged in assembling
the same onto a joint 20, it comprises an integral device formed of
the articulated halves 40 and 42. The workman applies the halves
onto the assembled joint 20, reaches for a single bolt 70, inserts
the bolt into the perforations with its end engaging the nut 68 and
tightens the bolt. He has handled only two items, in addition to
the joint which usually would be held in a fixture or some kind or
maintained in position in some other manner. For example, the joint
may comprise pipes 80 and 82 as shown in FIG. 6 in which case their
telescoping together will hold them in assembly to an extent
sufficient to permit the mounting of the clamp 28.
The pipes 80 and 82 form the joint 84 either with or without the
gasket 86. The pipe 82 has a bead 88 formed like the pipe 24 and
the bead 32, but the pipe 80 has a piloting section 80 so that the
bead 90 is formed spaced from the pipe end. Details of various
piloting arrangements are also disclosed in the above mentioned
patent. Such arrangements are applicable as well to the invention
herein.
FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate a joint and pipe clamp constructed
in accordance with the invention in which the pipes making up the
joint may be somewhat misaligned without causing emission leakage.
In the case of the joint of FIG. 1, without a gasket the joint and
clamp combination operates best when the pipes 22 and 24 are in
perfect coaxial alignment. With a gasket a slight amount of
misalignment may be tolerated, but when misalignment exceeds a
degree or so, problems may be encountered. The structure of FIGS. 8
through 11 permits a misalignment of the order of 3.degree. without
loss of sealing.
The clamp 100 is constructed exactly like the clamp 28 exept that
the medial sections of the halves 102 and 104 are deliberately made
narrower as indicated at 106 and 108 than normally would be
expected. Thus, the ends 110, 112, 114 and 116 have a width
dimension which is indicated by the double-ended arrow 118, or at
least this dimension is the width of the strip of steel from which
the clamp halves and hence the ends would be formed as by stamping.
As for the medial sections 106 and 108, the portions which would
normally constitute their skirts are cut away, the shoulders
resulting from such decrease in width being indicated at 120, 122,
124 and 126 in FIG. 9. Thus, the narrower medial sections have a
width dimension indicated by the double-ended arrow 128. In the
clamp 28, the dimensions 118 and 128 are substantially the
same.
The removal of the skirts enables the clamp 100 to clear the pipes
forming the joint when these pipes are misaligned. In FIG. 10 it is
seen that the joint 130 comprises the pipes 132 and 134, each
having a rolled bead formed on its end. The bead or beaded
formation 136 is of arcuate cross section quite similar to the
beads 30 and 32 of the clamp and joint of FIGS. 1 through 5 but the
beaded formation 138 is outwardly flared giving rise to a sort of
conical flange having an interior conical surface 140. A conical
gasket 142 is used with this joint, the gasket 142 having a central
opening 144. When engaged to form the joint 130, the inner conical
surface 140 of the flange-like beaded formation 138 and the
conforming gasket 142 ride on the exterior of the outwardly convex
rounded surface of the bead 136 in a generally circular contact.
This type of contact will be maintained for substantial
misalignment of the pipes 132 and 134 as demonstrated in FIG. 11,
which shows the variance from alignment of the center lines 150 and
152 of the respective pipes. The engaged surface of bead 136 may be
considered a flange contacting the abutted flange 138 on the
interior thereof.
Again as in the previous instance, the taking up of the clamp 100
forces the two pipes 132 and 134 axially against one another
compressing the intervening gasket and sealing the joint 130. The
canting of the clamp 100 when there is misalignment has no effect
on the efficiency of the resulting assembly because the clamp
skirts do not come into engagement with the pipes. For purposes of
definition, the shortened skirts of the clamp 100 are indicated at
156 and 158. The normal skirts of the clamp 28 are indicated at 160
and 162 in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a joint 170 similar to the joint 130
maintained in assembly by the clamp 172, which in this case is
similar in construction to the clamp 28.
FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate the articulated cooperating connections
on the first ends of the halves of clamps of modified form. In both
cases, the connection is also articulated as in those embodiments
previously described and illustrated, but these connections may be
disassembled to separate the halves of the clamps. Such structures
would be used where it is not important or necessary to keep the
halves of a clamp in permanent articulated assembly.
In FIGS. 12 and 13 the clamp 174 is made up of the halves 176 and
178 which, while advantageously having the medial configuration
similar to those of clamps 28 and 100, need not be so formed. Such
clamps may be used for purposes other than holding a pipe joint
together. For example, these may hold an elastomeric hose to a
spud. The first end 180 of the half 176 is shown formed with a
generally rectangular bight 182 quite similar to the rectangular
bight of the clamps of the above mentioned patent, but the lower
flange 184 of the bight 182 has a central inwardly directed tongue
186 integral therewith and bent at a right angle thereto. The first
end 188 of the half 178 is a simple radially extending tab or blade
intended to engage in the bight 182 and overlie the flange 184 in
the type of connection which is described in said above mentioned
patent. There is a central slot or perforation 190 punched into
this tab 188 that is engaged onto the tongue 186 when the halves
176 and 178 are assembled prior to their being engaged onto the
pipes or hose with which they will be assembled. This is done in a
simple movement indicated by the line 192 of FIG. 13. In this
manner the clamp 174 is handled more readily since it retains its
alignment while engaging it upon the workpiece to which it will be
assembled. It is easily disassembled if desired. The fact that no
mechanical operation is needed to effect its assembly as in the
case of the clamps 28 and 100 (requiring the opening and subsequent
closing of the slot 48 to enable insertion and mounting of the
necked tongue 54) means that it may be somewhat more economical to
manufacture.
The remaining clamp 200 of FIG. 14 has a simple reverse curve
projection 202 formed at the end of the half 204 entering the slot
206 and forming an articulated connection with the tab 208 in which
the slot is punched. The tab is formed on the first end of the half
210.
In every case, the clamps are made out of two halves which are
fabricated separately and then assembled.
Considerable variations can be made in the clamps and the joints
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims. The invention is considered to be
the clamp structure and the combination of clamp structure with
joints.
* * * * *